MAORIS WIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22197, 26 August 1935, Page 14

MAORIS WIN

DEFEAT OF AUCKLAND FOURTEEN POINTS TO TEN LOCAL TEAM IMPROVES * NEPIA'S FINE DISPLAY In a rather disappointing ]R, ln i match at Eden Park on Saturday th Maoris beat- Auckland by 14 poj j 6 (three tries, one converted, and 0 ' penalty goal) to 10 (two 'convertJ tries). The weather and ground cond, v tions were ideal for football and the was an attendance estimated at 20,000* Although they always attempted to play the open, spectacular game which was popular with the spectators th standard shown by the Maoris was not as high as anticipated. Their passi ' was too erratic and too much of a "balloon" type. b6 The Auckland forwards played well and were quick to take advantage 0 f mistakes by the opposition. The Auek land tackling, too, was very sound; Pack" ing considerably better and throwing their full weight into the fray tho home forwards repeatedly broke away f rom the lineouts and rucks. On the other hand the Maoris failed" to keep together and their work was more or less of the individual type. A great improvement in form was shown by the Auckland team, which was a totally different side from that which lost the Ranfurly Shield to Canterbury a fortnight ago. Changes in the rearguard had the desired effect, while the defence proved hard to break through. It was unfortunate for Auckland that Killeen had to leave the field just after the start of the second spell. Up to this stage Killeen was playing fine football and had he not been injured Auckland may have taken the honours. Nepia also had to leave the field in the second spell with an injured leg for which he was receiving treatment prior to the match. During his stav Nepia revealed some brilliant touches and proved that he is yet far from being a back number. H. Harrison Brilliant C. Smith, having to make nearly all his own chances, impressed by his strong running, while G. Brodrick and G. Harrison were outstanding in the forwards Brodrick, a fast breakaway, was in nearly every movement and he was instrumental in the Maoris scoring their iirst try. A fine game was played by H. Harrison, first five-eighths, who was brilliant at times on attack. In the first spell possession from the scrums and lineouiis was fairly evSft* but after the interval Auckland held a decided advantage. Auckland adoplvd spoiling tactics to good effect and tl.is was responsible in a large measure for nullifying the bright, open play of the visitors. It was clear that the Maoris were feeling the effects of a hard tour as at no stage did they appear to he playing with their usual dash and vim. An outstanding game for Auckland was played by Anderson in the vanguard. He was always with the play in the open, while doing his full share in the tight. Anderson is one of the most promising forwards seen in Auckland for some time. Even Exchanges Misfielding. by C. Smith from the kickoff let Auckland right up to the Maori line, where a penalty relieved. The Maoris soon took the offensive and Reedy cut' through in a passing bout, a knock-on spoiling a likely try. Even exchanges followed until the Auckland forwards broke away in the loose and Killeen followed through well, Nepia making a brilliant save. Auckland maintained the pressure, its backs swinging into action nicely when Neale made a break through. Possession from the scrums and line-outs was fairly even, but neither side could make much headway. The Maoris made mistakes in handling and the Auckland forwards were quick to turn these to advantage. However, the Maori backs covered quickly and on one occasion Phillips saved well. Although some of the passing was wild, the Maoris when in possession kept play open, and when 1 Turbott failed to gather clearly Nroarick was almost over. The first srore came after half an hour's play, when ■ H. Harrison lauded a good goal from a penalty. Maoris 3 Auckland . . .... • • " A minute later Brodrick snapped up in the loose and C. Smith made a fine opening for P. Rogers, who finished the movement with a try wide out. H. Harrison failed to convert. 1 From this stage until half-time the Maoris held the ascendancy, but there was no further scoring. The score at tho interval was: — Maoris • • ® | Auckland ® Auckland's First Try A minute after 'the resumption Kil--1 leen had to retire with an injured leg I and was replaced by Curtayne. From • a scrum in the Maori twenty-five tne . Auckland backs were seen in a good • movement. Curtayne ran round on the . outside and reverse-passed to Ander- • son, who touched down wide out. Ne al i converted with a fine kick. Maoris . . • • « 1 Auckland . . .... • • 8 The Maoris drove back in a nice back movement from which Phillips ]" s failed. Auckland was playing . Maoris at their own game and from . long transfer Dick gathered and c wide out. Neale again kicked a Me 1 goal. ' Auckland ( Maoris Tho Auckland forwards were no* , bustling the opposition and had t , better of the exchanges. Nepia, . was lame, retired and was replaced . McDonald. The Maoris then rearrange , their back line, C. Smith, going _ e second five-eighths, McDonald to i wing and J. Reedy to fullback. A movement bv H. Harrison, who uor the blind sid6 from a scrum, result ' in P. Smith scoring a try by the P? ' after a determined run. H. Harn " converted. | Maoris ,1 Auckland 1 , Pace Slackens _ ... Brodrick made a good run in he beat several defenders, hut his P to Phillips went astray. Turbott, " Auckland fullback, was injured and r | replaced by Inglis, who went to seco I i five-eighths in place of Curtayne, , ) last-named dropping back. The P at !j 1 the game had now slackened consi, - ably except for occasional flashes by . Maori backs. 011 time weak • : Curtayne saw H. Harrison gatn l poor pass. Rogers fielded a-long tr for and touched down wide ""'.j . Harrison failed to convert. The > score was: > Maoris [ Auckland 5 Mr. J. A. Malcolm was referee. 1 On their tour the Maori team ' 13 matches, of which they won 1 „ lost three. Points scored by the „ ; totalled 279 and points against * Nine members of the team ' e T? u^ r ua day morning by service car for n 1 and the remainder by the l' mI : i„ s t 1 press and New Plymouth trni . ; evening. The members of the tea did not make the trip to Aucklan • already disbanded. c {foe Mr. Kingi Tahiwi, nianng o^, • Maori team, and Mr. •Jcoach, were enthusiastically W by a number of friends.